Trainer Tony McEvoy is awaiting the Turnbull Stakes to provide clarity on his stable star, Half Yours, and its potential for a Cox Plate campaign.

This Saturday at Flemington, McEvoy aims to see the horse, a dual Cups winner from last year, solidify its standing as a serious Cox Plate contender.

The 2000-metre Turnbull Stakes is expected to feature rivals such as Sir Delius, Birdman, and Aeliana, who are currently prominent in Cox Plate betting. McEvoy believes the Turnbull offers the ideal proving ground for Half Yours to demonstrate its capability at the highest level.

“That’s what we’re hoping and that’s what his work’s telling us,” McEvoy explained.

“The Turnbull is in the fork in the road for him.

“I don’t want to run him in a Cox Plate if he can’t win a Cox Plate, but if he matches it with them in the Turnbull, he’ll go to the Cox Plate.”

Beyond Saturday’s engagement, the $6 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) looms as another option for Half Yours. He triumphed in this event last year and will carry 57.5kg in the upcoming running.

Half Yours has not recorded a win since his Melbourne Cup victory last year. His sole race this season was a sixth-place finish in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 12, where he was the standout performer in terms of sectional times.

He finished 4.65 lengths behind the winner, Sheza Alibi, but was closely matched with Sir Delius, who was the first horse home in the Makybe Diva Stakes and is set to contest the Turnbull Stakes, just three-quarters-of-a-length ahead.

The Makybe Diva Stakes saw Half Yours start from barrier 10, continuing a trend of wide draws that has affected his racing pattern. McEvoy is particularly hopeful for a more advantageous barrier position this week.

“He hasn’t drawn a gate for a long time and we’ve been forced to go back,” he stated.

“He can sit three or four lengths closer in a race, if we draw well. He’s due to draw a gate.

“He’s got to tick the 2000-metre box at this level. He’s an elite stayer, but we’ve kept him nice and sharp with just that one mile race coming into this and I think he’ll run really well.”

Bookmakers are offering competitive betting markets for the Turnbull Stakes, with Half Yours expected to be a popular choice.

Sep 11, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; The reflection of the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Oakley visor of Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) during the 2026 NFL Melbourne Game. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Bronze medalists Pincky Balhara of India (AP Photo)

Three family deaths in quick succession could have brought Pincky Balhara’s sporting journey to a halt. Instead, the Delhi athlete carried her grief into the competition arena, turned her father’s dream into motivation and went on to win an Asian Games medal.Eight years after her historic silver at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, Balhara returned to the continental podium on Monday, winning bronze in the women’s -78kg Kurash event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games. The bronze is Balhara’s second Asian Games medal in Kurash, following her silver in the women’s -52kg category in Jakarta. She has now become the only Indian athlete to win multiple Asian Games medals in Kurash.

What is Kurash?

Kurash is a traditional Central Asian martial art that originated in the region and is particularly associated with Uzbekistan. It made its Asian Games debut at the 2018 Jakarta Games. The basic objective is simple: throw the opponent onto their back while remaining in a standing position. Unlike judo or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Kurash does not involve prolonged ground fighting.

From judo mats to Kurash

Born on October 20, 1998, in Neb Sarai, Delhi, Balhara began training in judo when she was nine. Her maternal uncle, Samundar Tokas, a former judoka and coach, played a major role in her early development.She quickly established herself in judo, winning gold at the 2018 Asian Junior Judo Championships. But she missed out on India’s judo squad for the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. That disappointment opened another door.With Kurash making its Asian Games debut in Jakarta, Balhara entered the trials. The sport, which shares similarities with judo but is contested entirely from a standing position, offered her another route to the continental stage. She made the team and was soon heading to Jakarta.

Three deaths changed everything

But just weeks before the Games, Balhara’s life was shattered. She lost her cousin brother first, followed by her father, who died of a heart attack, and then her grandfather. The three deaths came in quick succession, leaving the teenager struggling to cope with the loss.Her father had been particularly excited about her selection for the Asian Games. After his death, Balhara initially did not want to compete. Her uncle, however, pushed her to continue, reminding her of her father’s hopes for her career.She returned to training while dealing with grief and also had to make the weight for her 52kg category. She later recalled going to the gym at night because she feared people would judge her for returning to training so soon after her father’s death.Balhara eventually made it to the 2018 Asian Games and produced a remarkable run. At just 19, she reached the women’s -52kg Kurash final, becoming one of India’s first Asian Games medallists in the sport. She eventually lost to Uzbekistan’s Gulnor Sulaymanova and settled for silver.Balhara later recalled her father’s prediction before the Games: that she would win silver rather than gold. When she finished second, she remembered his words. At Aichi-Nagoya, Balhara began her campaign with a 3-0 quarterfinal victory over South Korea’s Garam Lim, securing her place in the semifinals and guaranteeing India another Kurash medal.She then faced South Korea’s Sumin Mo in the last four. Mo won 5-0, sending Balhara into the bronze-medal position.Eight years after her first Asian Games medal, Balhara was back on the podium.

Pincky Balhara’s Asian Games record

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Donald Trump was involved in a bizarre extended handshake with Australian golfer Adam Scott as he watched the United States secure Presidents Cup success at Medinah.

Trump was a prominent presence as the US fought back to snatch victory in the Sunday singles, overturning a huge deficit to extend their long winning streak in the biennial event.

US captain Brandt Snedeker credited his side’s success to the president as the hosts won nine of the 12 matches to secure a 17-13 victory.

The president of the United States was present for the start of each of those, shaking hands with the competitors as they made their way onto the first tee.

Australian veteran Scott appeared the victim of a Trump jape as the pair shared a long clasp of hands, with the golfer appearing to try and pull away before the shake was relinquished.

Both men appeared to be smiling during the exchange, with the president a noted golf lover. Scott won the 2016 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Florida a decade ago.

The Team International’s failure to convert a sizeable lead into success means Scott has now featured 12 times in the Presidents Cup without once taking victory.

The United States were last beaten at the event in 1998, their sole defeat in competition history.

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France face Belgium on Matchday 2 of the Nations League. With Kylian Mbappé out due to injury, Ousmane Dembélé will serve as captain if he starts.

The Arizona Cardinals visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 4:05 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA. Arizona is 1-1 after a 31-7 loss to Seattle and San Francisco is 2-0 after a Week 2 win over Miami.

San Francisco averages 31 points and 380.5 yards per game and ranks among the league leaders on third down. Arizona averages 16.5 points per game with 179 passing yards and 93 rushing yards per game.

San Francisco allows 10 points per game with 4 sacks. Arizona allows 22.5 points per game and carries a plus-2 turnover margin.

The 49ers are 8.5-point favorites over the Cardinals.

Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch Cardinals vs. 49ers

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San Francisco has not allowed Purdy to be sacked through two games, the cleanest start to a season in franchise history. He has answered by throwing for 492 yards and 5 touchdowns, and the 49ers are averaging 31 points and 380.5 yards per game with him running the offense.

Arizona’s defense has allowed 22.5 points per game, and San Francisco already ranks among the league’s best on third down. That combination puts real weight on how fast Purdy can turn drives into points rather than just yardage.

Arizona’s passing game has really only produced one consistent piece through two weeks, and it is the tight end. McBride has caught 17 of 22 targets for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns, scoring in both of the Cardinals’ first two games, including 8 catches for 41 yards in last week’s loss to Seattle.

San Francisco’s defense has allowed just 10 points per game this season, third-fewest in the league, which makes McBride’s underneath targets one of the few dependable ways Arizona can move the chains against it.

Christian McCaffrey reached 100 career regular-season touchdowns by scoring twice in the 49ers’ Week 2 win over Miami, each from a yard out. He finished that game with 10 carries for 23 yards and 4 catches for 43 yards, and San Francisco is now averaging 134.5 rushing yards per game with 3 rushing touchdowns on the season.

Arizona has given up 6 total touchdowns on defense through two games, and McCaffrey’s role near the goal line gives San Francisco a direct way to keep testing that same soft spot again Sunday.

San Francisco’s defense already has 4 sacks through two games, and Brissett is walking into that pressure after a Week 2 outing that produced just 95 yards passing in a 31-7 loss to Seattle. He has 372 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season, with an interception in that same Seattle game he would rather forget.

Arizona’s plus-2 turnover margin is the one real edge working in his favor, built more by the defense forcing takeaways than by anything Brissett has generated through the air. Holding onto that margin will matter against a 49ers front that already has him at a disadvantage.

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For the first time in 315 days, Northern Ireland are back in Belfast.

Michael O’Neill’s side welcome Hungary to Windsor Park for a Nations League Group B2 contest on Monday night, just 51 days shy of a year since a Jamie Donley penalty saw the side to a 1-0 win over Luxembourg in their previous home fixture.

In the interim, they have played five times on their travels, a run that began with World Cup play-off defeat by Italy in Bergamo in March and concluded with victory over Georgia on Friday night.

If that win in Tbilisi represented a something of a breakthrough in terms of away performances – they had won just two of their previous 12 competitive away games – form back at Windsor has been strong despite the sporadic fixtures.

Since losing to Slovenia in October 2023, only Germany have left Belfast with a win and that a 1-0 triumph on a night the hosts missed numerous good chances.

A run of seven wins in nine home games is in stark contrast to what went before when, in the preceding nine at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland had beaten only San Marino and Kosovo, the latter courtesy of a 94th-minute winner.

O’Neill said he does not put much stock in such runs of form given the changing squads in international football, but acknowledged his team are in “a really good phase” at Windsor Park.

“This is a new team, so they’re not saddled by the performance of previous teams,” he said.

“They love playing here at the stadium. You know there was a period where the team of 2016 [who qualified for the European Championships of that year] didn’t enjoy playing at home.

“Then suddenly they started to win games and they loved playing at home. Teams go through phases and at this moment in time this team is in a really good phase in terms of the home form.”

UFC Vegas 121 yet again goes to show that simply because a card is in the Meta Apex and doesn’t have the biggest star power doesn’t mean it can’t deliver. UFC Vegas 121 delivered in so many ways, proving to be an entertaining night in the Octagon.

That was capped off by a star-making five-round war between Raul Rosas Jr. and Raoni Barcelos, which, while perhaps Rosas’ best UFC performance yet, ended in near-tragedy with Barcelos being stretchered out of the Octagon unconscious. My thoughts and prayers are with him as he recovers.

So, let’s talk about the other notable thing I took away from UFC Vegas 121: to borrow a famous book title, A Tale of Two (Prospect) Cities. One man has given his stock a boost, and another has probably done some damage (even if a tiny bit) to his.

Luis Hernandez

The one who drew eyeballs and gained fans? Luis Hernandez.

If you don’t know who this is, it’s because he’s legit brand new to the Octagon. And that’s because “The Stache” only earned his UFC contract 12 days ago. He competed on Dana White’s Contender Series and made a statement with a 61-second submission victory over 7-1 Hugo Guillon.

That was already a cool moment for Hernandez, the first full-time active-duty U.S. law enforcement officer to join the UFC. But you know how UFC CEO and President Dana White really loves guys who take chances and are ready at a whim – and that came on Thursday, Sept. 24, when Hernandez got the call to compete on two days’ notice against Sedrqiues Dumas after Mickey Gall was not cleared to fight.

So this fight was already bizarre enough with the short-notice light heavyweight nature of it, but Hernandez was ready and then some for his quick UFC debut. Hernandez landed an overhand on Dumas, dropping him and getting on top. As Dumas looked to get up, Hernandez locked up a guillotine choke, keeping it with both combatants standing and scoring the tapout in about a minute.

Hernandez then had a wild celebration as the Vegas crowd was in a frenzy, thrusting and doing the D-Generation X-style crotch chops. And then the guy goes and says he wants to fight again before the year ends, hoping for three fights in three months, and even appealing for a fight down at welterweight.

This guy might be crazy, but it’s a fun kind of crazy I’m all for. And at 9-0 with all finishes (most in the first round), he’s certainly one I’ll enjoy watching.

Mehemmedeli Osmanali

Then there’s the unfortunate case of Mehemmedeli Osmanali, one of the fighters who competed in the finale bouts for The Ultimate Fighter season 34 on the card.

Any episode where Osmanli was a featured star, especially the weeks in which he fought, it seemed like a number of points in these episodes were dedicated to talking about how Osmanli was special. Even White’s comments about the fighters during the season seemed to indicate he sees something special in Osmanli.

Merab Dvalishvili even said Osmanli’s attitude, approach and intensity in fighting reminded him of a young Conor McGregor.

These all seemed to be subliminal messaging that not only was Osmanli a person to watch to make it to the finale, but it seemed to be subliminal messaging that this was the guy most had a stake in winning the season. He seemed to impress with submission wins against Artem Belakh and Christian Strong during the tournament – even producing the first buggy choke victory in any UFC-related product (UFC, TUF, or DWCS).

There was plenty of hype around him, and plenty seemed to feel he’d be able to defeat Ilimbek Akylbek.

Then, the knee happened. After scoring a knockdown of Akylbek during the first round, Osmanli charged forward, and his knee collided directly with Akylbek’s head. After Akylbek was turned over, he appeared to be out.

Plenty of debate has emerged online about whether Akylbek feigned being unconscious to get the win. And while there is validity in having such a debate, there is one issue – this debate wouldn’t be happening if Osmanli wasn’t careless and landed a clearly illegal knee on a clearly downed fighter.

And with that, the wind is taken out of TUF 34’s sails. For the first time in the show’s 34 seasons, over 20 years of TUF, a TUF championship is handed out by disqualification. And instead of an epic finish like women’s strawweight counterpart Tina Black’s TUF victory, we get something that reminds us of Aljamain Sterling winning the UFC bantamweight title from Petr Yan via DQ.

And Osmanli still had the nerve to raise his arms at the end. Yeah, not a good look.

Now White and company will have to make a decision on what they do with Osmanli – whether they still sign him, wait for things to die down and book him another fight, or if they let him go quietly and see if they can bring him back later. Even if he were to sign with PFL/MVP, he’ll probably still find his way back to UFC eventually. But with how much praise White has had for Osmanli, the former probably happens.

Let’s just hope he doesn’t blow his second chance.